Somerset v Derbyshire predictions & free cricket betting tips: Madsen is magic

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for Somerset v Derbyshire in Saturday's T20 Blast quarter-final at Taunton.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Cricket, 7pm Saturday

Best bets

Wayne Madsen top Derbyshire runscorer
2pts 7-2 Betfair, Paddy Power

Match preview

Derbyshire narrowly missed out on a home T20 Blast quarter-final, which was fortunate given that it would have clashed with a Michael Buble concert at the County Ground, so they face a daunting trip to Taunton to face Somerset.

International call-ups have left the Blast quarter-finals short of stars this week and Derbyshire coach Mickey Arthur is particularly disgruntled to have lost Pakistan opener Shan Masood, who was the second-highest runscorer during the group stage of the tournament.

Somerset can still field a high-class top order including England Lions batters Tom Abell, Will Smeed and Tom Banton and former South Africa international Rilee Roussow and they are 4-7 favourites to reach Finals Day.

Masood's absence for Derbyshire increases the pressure on the experienced Wayne Madsen, who has been in sumptuous form this summer.

Madsen, a tempting 7-2 to top-score for the underdogs, made his first T20 century in their final North Group fixture – 100 not out off 47 balls against Durham – and his four previous Blast innings were 70, six, 73 and 55.

He switched formats during that run to score 176 in a County Championship game at Sussex and looks the class act in a depleted Derbyshire top order.

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